Monthly Archives: November 2014

We hope we are posting content that is useful in your professional and personal lives. But what are we missing? What stories would YOU like to see on this blog that we aren’t presenting now?

Those who respond with a story suggestion will be entered into a drawing for a free book: your choice between, “The Skinny on Success: Why Not you?” by Jim Randel; “Networking for Job Search and Career Success” by L. Michelle Tullier; or “The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers” by Barry J. Jacobs.

Email: mike.jacquart@impacttrainingcenter.net

Most importantly, have an enjoyable holiday with you and yours! HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

Impact Publications Editor Mike Jacquart was the guest on Dr. John DeGarmo’s weekly radio show, “Foster Talk with Dr. John” on Monday, Nov. 17. Jacquart, author of this blog, wason the program discussing “Foster Care Support Network,” a print training that he edits for foster parents.

This is the third and last post in a series commemorating the service of veterans to their country.

The Concussion Coach is a mobile application (app) created by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense for people who have experienced a concussion or mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traumatic brain injury has been common in recent military conflicts. In fact, since 2000, more than 300,000 service members have sustained a TBI.

The app is designed to support treatment with a health care professional by providing patients with portable, convenient tools to learn about their injury and cope with its symptoms.

This is the second of three posts commemorating veterans and Veterans Day.

Veterans and service members generally do well adjusting to civilian life following their service. Sometimes, however, they face difficulties with relationships, financial responsibilities, and loneliness, along with other difficulties related to their return home.

The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) have developed Moving Forward: Overcoming Life’s Challenges to help veterans and service members strengthen problem-solving skills and overcome difficulties such as those named earlier.

Moving Forward is a free, confidential, online educational and life coaching program that can be useful to anyone with stressful problems. Based on evidence-based Problem-Solving Therapy, Moving Forward teaches skills to identify goals, problem solve, reduce stress, and increase optimism.

The self-paced online course and app allows veterans and service members to take the right module training at their convenience. EAP providers may consider referring veterans and service members to Moving Forward to bolster problem solving and offer additional support.

This is the first in a series of three posts honoring our servicemen and servicewomen and commemorating Veterans Day, November 11.

By Lida Citroën, Principal, LIDA360, LLC

As hiring managers and recruiters across the country seek to find talent, a highly untapped and ready workforce awaits employment. Currently there are roughly 163,000 unemployed post-9/11 veterans and more than 600,000 unemployed veterans overall. These individuals are the beneficiaries of more than $130 billion of investments in training, education, and skill building from the US government. The following are some of the key reasons why hiring a veteran could be a company’s best business decision yet:

* Problem solving – The training veterans received in service is the ultimate in problem solving – anticipate and prepare for anything or the consequences could be deadly. While most will not face life and death problems in their next career, veterans are trained to think creatively and to not be deterred by obstacles. Where their civilian counterpart might stop in the face of a challenge, the veteran will persevere until a resolution is identified. For employers that seek independent thinkers, solution-oriented team leaders, and focused employees, veterans are ideal candidates.

* Loyalty – When attrition accounts for a great deal of corporate revenue loss, and the costs to replace one employee are very high, having a workforce that is selective and then loyal is of high value. Veterans committed their lives to their former employee, risking it all and sacrificing much. They are taught that loyalty is admirable and that walking away from challenge is not an option. This makes them tremendous assets to organizations that seek leaders to help manage risk, and critical initiatives where loyalty and follow-through will produce valued results.

* Trainability – When an individual joins the military, they do not do so with the training needed to perform at exceptional (and lifesaving) levels. They learn how to be an expert through training, drills, and real-world situations. When leaving the military, these same individuals are again very capable of learning new skills, talents, and abilities.

A version of this article appeared in the November 2014 Job Training & Placement Report newsletter. For more information, check out the “Job Training Professionals” tab at http://www.impact-publications.com.

Lida Citroën is the author of Your Next Mission: A personal branding guide for the military-to-civilian transition and Principal of LIDA360, a consulting firm that helps create effective market positioning through the use of brand strategies. She regularly presents at conferences, events and programs, teaching transitioning veterans how to understand their unique value and market them to future employers.

Citroën is an active member of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and works closely with General Peter Pace’s program in Philadelphia, Wall Street Warfighters Foundation (WSWF).